Kicked Into Touch review - Hull Daily Mail, June 2005

Up to the Challenge
Theatre Review
Kicked Into Touch, Hull Truck Theatre

Did anyone ever own up to scribbling the sign left by the side of the road on the outskirts of Hull on May 3, 1980 which read "last one out please turn out the lights"? I was among the few who stayed behind, watching on TV with my mother, sisters and niece, as Hull KR and Hull FC fought for the Rugby League Challenge Cup trophy at Wembley.

Our menfolk had joined the exodus to the capital but we preferred to stay at home, decked out in red and white as a tribute to our dad - an ex-Rovers player who had recently died. Our young niece had crossed the river into east Hull bravely sporting the black and white colours of the Airlie Birds but there was no one on the empty streets to poke fun at the west Hull interloper.

Dave Windass' entertaining play, here in its world premiere, brought the events of that weekend rushing back - and he got it spot on.
I, along with a packed Hull Truck Theatre, laughed from start to finish at the antics of Neil (Hull KR), Robyn (Hull FC) and Daz (Hull City) as the clash of the rugby titans approached.

The opening scenes as Neil (Martin Barrass) sings "When the red, red robin, comes bob, bob, bobbing along", while trying to drown out Robyn's (Belinda Lazenby) "Old faithful, we roam the range together", instantly re-awakened old rivalries for members of the audience, some of whom had donned their team's colours for the night. The shy Daz (Lee Green) could only reply with "up the Tigers".

The play centres around these three friends and how that momentous sporting event affected their lives and continues to affect them today, 25 years later. You see, Neil loved Robyn, Robyn loved Neil and Daz loved Robyn. But Neil also loved other women, to the extent that he pretended to tear up and eat the two cup final tickets he had bought for himself and Robyn, to trick her into thinking they couldn't go to the game - just so he could take another girl called Tracy. That action sealed his fate.

Windass' colourful script wrought genuined belly laughs from the audience as well as gasps of disbelief as the odd shock was thrown in. It's been such a success, evening performances have sold out. If his play gets the re-run it deserves, don't let it slip through your fingers.

Verdict: A laugh-a-minute performance by three talented actors who truly did justice to a very well-written script. Dave Windass' entertaining play brought the events of the momentous Challenge Cup final weekend rushing back.

Kicked Into Touch review - Holderness Gazette, June 2005

Curtain Call with Judy Adcock

Hull Truck is one of the country's most popular theatre companies touring regularly with many productions and one that is committed to new writing. In March 2003 a new writers' group called the Blockheads was formed with assistance from the Arts Council England, Creative Factory Funding. The Blockheads is led by associate director Gareth Tudor Price with the aim to develop local aspiring writers.

Last year the group premiered nine short plays over three evenings and this year the group was given the opportunity to develop a full-length play. Hull born Dave Windass, a founder member of the Blockheads, wrote the chosen play. He is also a full-time reporter for the Hull Daily Mail and theatre critic for The Stage and whatsonstage.com.

Dave Windass' play celebrates the 25th anniversary of the clash of the giants, Hull v Rovers, and the journey down to Wembley. The Airlie Birds and the Robins travel on bus and train decked out in their colour of red, black and white.

The story revolves around Neil (Martin Barrass) and Robyn (Belinda Lazenby) who meet and fall in love under exceptional circumstances as they support opposing teams. Daz (Lee Green) in the comfortable role of a Hull City supporter and friend of Neil, tells the story in flashbacks. Along the way the three characters take on multiple roles of bus driver, referee, commentator and the inevitable supporters. The two exceptional characters were the two old dears left behind when Hull emptied for the weekend. But what happened to the romantic notions of Robyn and Neil who were destined to marry after Wembley? No one would ever have chewed the Wembley tickets as they were like gold, but it did fool Robyn for a long time.

Through Dave Windass' expert research and humorous writing it will have brought many memories back to members of the audience, who were divided in their team colours on the night. They relished in the mention of team names of that era and will have reminisced long into the night.

Martin Barrass has expertly changed the shape of the ball from Confessions of a City Supporter, seen at Hull Truck last year written by Alan Plater, to the oval ball of rugby. Under the watchful eyes from the touchline of directors Gareth Tudor Price and Nick Lane, Dave has evened out the score with perfectly placed penalty kicks and some delightful touches on and off the ball. I know it's only a game but Hull Truck have a certain winner with Dave's new writing.